Thailand CRS UPDATE (Sep 2023)

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Not my experience. For each bank account I opened in Thailand in different banks they all have asked an address in Thailand + supporting docs.

You mean bank recorded your friend's address abroad? If so, then this account will be reported.
In Thailand there is no black and white. Everything is grey. The same bank, let's say Bangkok Bank, you go to a branch and they would require you to provide XYZ documents and ask different questions, then you go to a different branch and they require different things or nothing at all.

I do not know what country they are reporting his account to. I was not with him during the whole process he was with the banker, but I know he only needed his passport (European) and pay for the insurance, and they opened the account for him right away. In some branches even with lease contract + resident certificate (without work pernit), and so on, they do not open it for you unless you buy the insurance. If you buy the insurance, they do not require anything besides your passport. In others they do not try to sell you the insurance, like in my case, and just wirh the lease country and certified copy of my passport was enough.

He did not have any address in Thailand and actually he was leaving the country a couple of days later. So I guess he gave them his address in Europe. He was staying in hotels or serviced aparrments.

I will tell you, the branch he went to was Bangkok Bank at Siam Paragon (ground floor I think). Also if you pay an agent around the same amount the insurance costs, they can open accounts for you too.
 
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Back in the day i easily opened a account with my passport and 50,000 THB deposit lol.
 
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Time to cross a border and open an account in Laos, Vietnam or Cambodia. No CRS, or any of that gimmicks.

I tell all of you a secret here. You can cancel that insurance and get a refund up to two weeks after signing the contract, according to Thai customer protection laws.
Of course you'll keep the bank account without any issues.
 
Reactions: jafo
I agree that anything can happen in Thailand but in 2023 a branch from the top 3 banks, especially in one of the main luxury mall in Bangkok, not being compliant is pretty weird and marginal to say the least.

For obvious reporting reasons, I personally would never open a bank account without providing a documented address, and without truly knowing either the account is resident or non-resident.
 

Thank you. Good to know. Although I opened the account without insurance. It was my friend who opened paying that insurance.
It happens in more branches, not only that one. You pay insurance they open bank account only with passport. It is Thailand. At least in the beggining of this year it was still like that.
 
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Interesting, wasn't aware of this, not that i mind CRS, i just disagree with the surveillance state, and everything being presumed guilt before proven innocent.

I've never visited Camboida, or Laos, been to Vietnam a few times, I'd imagine it can be difficult to open accounts directly in or ven remotely.
 
Maybe you can open through HSBC Vietnam remotely.
 
Reactions: troubled soul
I opened an account with bankcard and onlinebanking at SMBC bank in HCMC, Vietnam in 20 minutes with a tourist visa 4 years ago,
ABA bank with Visa debit on a 30 days ordinary visa and
Prasac Microfinance (they offered 14% on USD deposit) on a 6 months ordinary visa extension and a rental contract (I had to go to a second branch for that, the first wanted to see a work permit).

Nowadays, Cambodia got a bit stricter and they don't give bank accounts so freely, you should have at least 6 months extension, but as in Thailand, it all depends on the branch,
 
Reactions: jafo
Just been informed? Who did inform you?